Weather across the nation: 3/22/13

Snow spread from the Rockies and through the Plains on Friday, while showers and thunderstorms developed in the South.

As a low pressure system moved off the Rockies and through the Plains, flow from the south pulled moisture in from the Gulf of Mexico. This allowed for scattered showers and thunderstorms to develop from the Southern Plains and across the Lower Mississippi River Valley.

There was a slight chance of severe thunderstorm development, but strong winds and large hail have not yet been reported. Periods of heavy rainfall developed in these areas with rainfall totals over 1 inch. The heaviest rainfall was reported at Monticello, Ark., with a midday rainfall total of 1.68 inches.

Meanwhile, cooler temperatures along the northern side of this system created snow showers across the Northern and Central Plains. Snowfall totals range from 3 to 5 inches across the Dakotas. At the same time, the back side of this system allowed for periods of heavy snow showers to persist across the Rockies and High Plains. Winter weather advisories remained in effect from Colorado through western Nebraska and Kansas as up to 7 inches were expected by Friday evening.

Meanwhile in the East, scattered snow showers continued over the Great Lakes and Northeast. A low pressure system pulled northeastward and away from the Northeast but allowed for a few scattered snow showers to persist from Pennsylvania through Maine. Snowfall accumulation ranged from 1 to 4 inches in these areas.

ON THIS DATE....... On this date in 1920, the Northern Lights were visible as far south as Bradenton, Fla., and Fresno, Calif. The display for Detroit, Mich., residents was described as "so brilliant as to blot out all the stars below first magnitude."